On Modeling the Energetics of the Ridging Process

Abstract

A two-dimensional particle simulation model of the sea-ice ridging process is developed. In this model, ridges are formed from a floating layer of disk-shaped rubble compressed between converging multi-year floes. The energy consumed in ridge growth, including dissipation, is explicitly calculated. The results of numerical experiments using this model indicate that the amount of energy required to ridge ice may be two to three times larger than previously thought.